Ax



Mar. 3, 1925- 1,528,377

A.A.KRAU$E Filed April 16, 1923 mvmron August A. Krause A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST ALBERT KRAUSE, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSTGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I OTTO AUGUST KRAUSE,OF INNISFAIL, ALBERTA, CANADA.

Application filed April 16, 1923. Serial No. 632,345.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUsT A. KnAUsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in Spokane County, and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axes, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in axes, and particularly of that type utilizing a detachable bit.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the bit may with facility be attached to or detached from the head, and, when attached thereto is rigidly and securely retained therein. And means are provided whereby the looking key may be reversed when necessary, as to compensate for wear, thus enhancing the durability of the ax.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts whereby the bit is rigidly joined with the head, and whereby the parts are securely locked together, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical applica tion of the principles of my invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the ax head and its detached bit.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the spring clip used as a key for locking the bit to the head.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the joined ax and its bit, as through line 4.4; of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view, as at line 55 of Fi ure 1 showing the relation of the locking :ey to its complementary parts.

In the preferred form of the invention as shown in the drawings the head 1 and its eye 2 are of usual construction and adapted to receive the helve of the handle, not shown. The poll 3 is adapted to receive the detachable bit 4, and the latter is provided with the usual cutting edge 5, the parts being fashioned in usual manner.

Vithin the poll of the ax a somewhat rectangular shaped socket 6 is provided, which is formed at one end with a wall 7 having a convex face, curved as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

At the front of the ax a key hole 8 is provided, which is of smaller dimensions than the socket, but forms a continuation thereof. Two of the opposing edges or corners of the walls of the hole are beveled, as at 9, 9 to give access to a'finger and thumb when it is desired to remove the key, and these opposing walls of the hole are also fashioned with complementary recesses as 10, 10, between the socket and outer end of the key hole.

As best seen in Figure 2 the bit is formed with a tongue 11 of substantial dimensions and projecting from the inner face of the bit. The tongue is adapted for insertion into the socket 6, and at one end is provided with a complementary, concave face 12 for co-action with the convex wall of the socket. It will be apparent that the tongue may be inserted in the socket by first applying the curved end of the tongue to the curved end of the socket, and then by simultaneously pushing the tongue into the socket and swinging the bit around parallel with the head, the tongue may be placed in attached relationship to the head. The co-action of the convex end wall 12 of the tongue and the convex end wall 7 of the socket insure a rigid retention of the tongue within the socket.

The tongue, at its end opposite to the concave end is fashioned with a squared notch 13, which, when the bit is in position alines with the key hole 8 of the socket, and is adapted to receive the locking key 14.

The key 14 is preferably of rectangular form, open at two sides, and made of resilient metal, its solid end 15 being adapted to fit into the notch 13 of the tongue. The opposite end 15 of the key is split to permit the two side walls of the resilient clip to be flexed toward one another in looking or unlocking the bit in the head.

For convenience in applying the key to or removing it from its hole, a pair of exterior grooves 16 are fashioned on opposite sides of the key, which, as seen in Figure 5, when the bit is locked, are located in juxtaposition.

to the beveled corner edges 9 of the ax head. It Will be apparent that these beveled edges and the grooves provide for the grasping of the key between a thumb and finger, in order that the two side walls of the resilient key may be flexed for'insert-ion or withdrawal of the key. The key, by its engagement in the notch 13 of the bit retains the bit .in place, andthe key is retained in. place by means of locking lugs 17 on the exterior of its side walls, which lugs spring into the recesses 10 of the key hole. The set screw 18 which engages the end of the tongue :19 eliminates all end play of the blade.

The side walls of the key may taper from top to bottom with the wider portion at the top, to compensate for wear, and in this case, the key may be reversed for use.

The tongue 11 may also taper, in cross section, slightly, to insure a final setting'of the bit in proper position with relation to the 'aX head. 7

While I have herein refe-rredto the device of my invention as being applied to an ax head, it will be understood thatthe fastening means of my invention may with equal facility and efiiciency be used in connection with other tools.

From the above description taken in connection with my drawings it will be apparent that the bit is made to fit closely against the an with the tongue rigidly and securely held in its socket, and the key itself is also rigidly retained within its key hole 1n such a manner as to withstand shocks and pm, and not become loosened.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination with the ax head having a socket and key hole andthe bit having a notched tongue of a key comprising a resilient rectangular clip having a split end wall, exterior lugs on said clip seated'in complementary recesses in the walls of the key hole, said clip having exterior grooves, and said key hole having beveled edges as described.

.In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

AUGUST ALBERT KBAUSE. 

